So let's get the ball rolling - it's chuffing brilliant (as my neighbours will attest - but if iTunes will email me at midnight, it'd be rude not to download and listen straight away, right?).

On the first couple of listens, Josephine, Demons and Silent Key hit me as standout tracks. In fact, Josephine may well be one of my favourite set of FT lyrics (and let's be honest, there's an awful lot of competition for that title). I'm now willing my work day to rush past so I can fit in a few more plays. Fantastic stuff.

(As an aside, after my FT book-buying shenanigans - I ended up with nine copies - I have yet again proved myself to be a wholly irresponsible internet shopper and have somehow ended up with three copies of PSFNP. I am truly a marketing man's wet dream . . .)

I honestly love the album after my first one and a half listens. The Angel Islington is the perfect way to open things. I hadn't heard Love Forty Down or Out of Breath before and those two really stuck out as ones that embodied the album for me. Loved the lyrics in Demons. Song For Josh was heartbreaking. It's a good song. I feel odd commenting on the quality of such an emotional song but it's just really, really well done.

I think my favorite thing is that we got to here the full band versions and acoustic versions for everything. Whoever decided to release both versions of the album deserves a raise or a drink or something.

I've had my first listen, but I was hoping to get Nigel's official advice on how to listen to the album correctly before I gave it another go. Appropriate points at which to pause and take a tea break to absorb before proceeding.

skhmmxi wrote:I've had my first listen, but I was hoping to get Nigel's official advice on how to listen to the album correctly before I gave it another go. Appropriate points at which to pause and take a tea break to absorb before proceeding.

Surely the pause point is at the end of it ... or at least at the end of the A side - you take a minute before putting on the B side.

I was a bit concerned after reading some not so positive remarks, but I have fallen in love with this recording, I have sobbed every time to Silent Key and Song for Josh. Sat reading the lyrics, really worth the exercise. Excellent. Best yet.

Absolutely loving the contrast of main cd and acoustic versions. Ive had acoustic version of Demons playing for the last hour on repeat. The rawness of the lyric 'you're not delivering a perfect body to the grave, and time is not there to be saved. Life is a holiday, a moment stolen from the black, before the demons drag you back.' Definite shivers and hair standing up on back of neck moment.

Cracking job by Frank and The Souls. Really looking forward to Monday and November tour.

Just picked up the album this morning and I'm on my second run through so far. Loving Mittens, Josephine and The Opening Act of Spring. Wailed like a baby on hearing Song For Josh - such a truly heartbreaking song. Not sure that will be something I can listen to regularly, until I can hear it in public without sobbing. Still have a little moment ever time I hear Polaroid Picture so this one's going to take much longer I think!!!

Listening on Spotify until I gather the energy to walk into town to buy it (Post gig knackedness!). Going to buy the deluxe edition and put the vinyl on my wishlist. So far I'm loving Mittens (makes me cry), Glorious You and Song for Josh but oh, I love them all already. A new album from Frank is like turning to the end of your favourite book and finding a new chapter.

placidcasual76 wrote:Song for Josh is very very very hard to listen to, as is Silent Key.

Agreed on both counts. I didn't know Josh, but I the Challenger disaster is still vivid in my mind. I was in my high school art class sharpening a pencil when I heard the news, and then I watched the endless coverage. I can still see the faces of the families watching Challenger launch, happy, smiling, cheering, and then slowly realizing what happened. Fuck you, news media, for showing that. That and the reaction of the kids at her school -- they were all gathered in the gym or whatever to watch the launch live. And then finding out that they were alive and possibly conscious the whole way down. Damn.